Retroperitoneal fibrosis

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disorder that blocks the tubes (ureters) that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Alternative Names:

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis; Ormond's disease

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Retroperitoneal fibrosis occurs when extra fibrous tissue forms in the area behind the stomach and intestines. The tissue forms a mass (or masses) that can block the tubes that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder.

The cause of this problem is not known. It is most common in people aged 40 - 60. Men are twice as likely to develop the condition as women.